User Reviews

Judging by the mostly ecstatic reviews it would appear that this film of Alberto Lattuarda has had quite an emotional impact and understandably so. It has been dismissed by critics as laughable melodrama. There are oodles of laughable melos out there but they are not all as well made and well played as this one. Having scored a hit three years earlier with 'Bitter Rice' it was obviously felt that there was more mileage to be had from the trio of Raf Vallone, Vittorio Gassman and Silvana Mangano. Vallone is again the honourable one, Gassman the rat and Silvana the meat in the sandwich. What can one say of La Mangano? An imperious, majestic and enigmatic artiste of great emotional power and depth. The highlight of the film for many will be Trovajoli's 'El Negro Zumbon' which she performs in a nightclub before becoming a nun(yes, it's that kind of film!) She is able to utilise her early training as a dancer but she lip-syncs to the voice of Flo Sandons whose singing career certainly benefited. As Sister Anna she is obliged to make a tough moral choice and her last line 'I have not lost' spoken to the strains of Nino Rota's lush score, should have you reaching for the Kleenex. At least I sincerely hope so!

I couldn't believe that some of these film's reviews are as new as 2010!! I saw this movie as a child (so long ago!) and never forgot it.

"La Mangano" (The stress goes on the first A: Mángano), at that time made a big hit here in Argentina, as did some other Italian beauties, like Silvana Pampanini and Gina Lollobrigida.

They were living LEGENDS.

"Bitter Rice" ("Riso amaro") shows Silvana Mangano as an incredibly sexy woman (same in this film, "Anna") and the baion she dances in one scene made history.

The love scenes between her and Vittorio Gasman are breathtaking, because both actors where terribly sexy.

At that time these movies were VERY osé, almost pornographic (they are so mild by comparison with what we see today...).

It's true what another reviewer says: "Only Rita Hayworth made such an impression when doing "Amado mio" and "Put the Blame on Mame" in "Gilda".

Nobody could get that feeling on film nowadays. As Gloria Swanson character puts it in "Sunset Boulevard": "We had faces then" (She meant in the silent era), but these Italian stars had faces AND BODIES to match!!

About Silvana Mangano, it's incredible the way this actress refined her looks after a while. Seeing her in "Morte a Venezia" ("Death in Venice"), by Visconti --1971--, where she plays Tadzio's mother, an extremely refined polish countess, it's almost impossible to associate her with the voluptuos woman in "Anna" and "Bitter Rice".

Her polished looks are even more glorious than when she was a sex bomb.

Same thing in "Gruppo di famiglia in un interno" --1974-- again by Visconti, with Burt Lancaster.

A true star that unfortunately had such a sad ending, but then, as Dorothy Parker put it when defending before Louis B. Mayer her bitter ending scripts: "Mr. Mayer, in real life there are no happy endings".

Silvana Mangano's was no exception.

Long before Sophia, Gina or Monica there was Silvana, both beautiful! and could act as well. As a child my ItalianAmerican parents took me to see her films that made it across the Atlantic, namely the classic Bitter Rice, and Anna ... Both were great films, but Anna was unforgettable, the mood the score and the performances were just great. I realize it must be 50 yrs. since Ive seen this film/ maybe once on TV! Never appears in revival houses... It should be seen.. It is not on USA tape,(Bitter Rice is sometimes shown on Bravo), Im going to contact TCM and Bravo to please revive this movie. It had 2 hit songs "Anna" # 1 hit, sung by Mangano herself, and "Non Dimenticar" done by everyone including Nat King Cole, Jerry Vale and others. If someone is aware of a video release please let me know... long live Anna and its sultry sexy star, who people are forgetting, Silvana Mangano!

I loved the musical numbers. I wish I had a truly preserved copy of this movie. I never knew this movie existed until I saw "Caro Diaro". I have become a Silvana fan! "Silvana has 50 different faces, it all depends on which way she will face the camera. Each face she has, is truly beautiful. Bless Her Heart.............

I think this is one of the most beautiful Italian films ever made and I know my views are shared by many! The wildly, beautiful Silvano and the late Vittorio Gassman are excellent in their roles. The songs and dances by Silvana can only be compared to the 'heat' generated by Rita Hayworth in "Gilda"--and you will find yourself loving those love songs for the rest of your life. When she becomes "Sister" Anna: you'll want to have a box of tissues handy.

Lovely Sophia Loren makes one of her first appearances in this beautiful film directed by Carlo Ponti.

Finally found a vhs copy of Anna(1951) via Movie Classics...Bad copy chopped..sniped together but the essence of this sultry exciting Italian neo classic film is still there...Over 50 yrs since I first saw this film in the Regent Theatre in Newark,NJ with my family..but those images remain...Anna the Nun.,Anna the nurse, Anna the night club samba singer dancer, Anna the whore who loves one man & sensually lusts after another!!!!The songs "Anna" sung by Mangano(#1 Hit record) & also "Non Dimenticar" are unforgettable.. beautiful Mangano, the face of Italy has made some US films notably, Ulysseus,5 Branded Women, & The Tempest, but will be remembered by aging audiences as the supreme siren of neo classic Italian films, Bitter Rice,ANNA, & Gold of Naples etc...dont miss..& lets hope we get a better copy!!!

I saw the movie 'Bitter Rice" and 'Anna' as a young woman, and they and the star, Sylvana Mangano had a galvanizing affect on me. I went to Catholic convent school as a youngster but was enrolled in public schools in the fourth grade so I identified with convent life.

I have never forgotten the songs she sang nor her leading man, Vittorio Guzeman. Only tonight (March 30, I thought to enter her name on a music site and was amazed when the two songs appeared! I down-loaded them (Non Dimenticar) and (Anna)! I think the movies above mentioned are the greatest movies of all time. Haven't been able to see either of them since I was that young girl...

What a movie , this is the best Italian movie from he early 50s Silvana Mangano at the top of her game very beautiful , sensual and fantastic the musical number are great and the song El negro sumbon is extraordinary , La Mangano never was better here she is better than in Bitter Rice , Silvana Mangnao love to be a mother more than a movie star and for sometime she retired to have children with her husband producer Dino di Laurenti eventually Silvana comeback to the movie and she was as good as always she did few movies for Luchino Visconti and Pier Paolo Pasoline all of then were great, La Mangano die in 1989 of cancer she die in Madrid Spain her life at the end was sad her son die in a plane crash in 1981 she never recovery from his death

Hello Folks! I have looked for this movie for quite a while. I watched the movie just about the time I was reaching puberty, at the local "passion pit" aka: The Roseville show. But this particular time I was alone and not sitting in the last row of the balcony. It touched me on the deepest level, and I always thought of it since that first viewing. Now I'm 63, and the movie still haunts me. So, I rate it in my personal "Top Ten" movies. I hope others take the time to see it. Perhaps others will view it. The Story line just blows me away! It begins with Anna falling in love with a soldier during the war, and a passionate love affair begins in the midst of crisis. As the relationship turns into deep love, the soldier gets reassigned. Anna is in crisis after her lover leaves. She is severely depressed and becomes a "loose woman" and begins Carousing, Drinking etc. after she receives word that her true love has been killed in action. Given this news, she decides to enter the Catholic convent to atone for her sinful past. Well I've already told to much but This website insists on at least 10 lines. O will tell no more, hope I have piqued the interest of another Romantic to watch this B&W 1951 epic, but I will not reveal the ending. So I hope this is enough to fulfill the requirements. Thanks for reading my ramblings Love to all. Navydoc62@hotmail.com feel free to share your impressions with me.